Antifouling paint.



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COATING 0R PLASTIC.

U NITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

THOMAS H. DENNEY, OF CAPE QHARLES, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO LEONARD J. WHITEHEAD AND JAMES B. JONES, OF CAPE CHARLES, VIRGINIA, AND

JOSEPHUS F. BUSSELLS, OF IRVINGTON, VIRGINIA.

ANTIFOULING PAINT.

SBECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. '7 15,763, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed November 27, 1901. Serial No. 83,908. (N0 pecim ns-l To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,.THOMAs H. DENNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cape Charles, in the county of Northampton and State of Virginia, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antifouling Paints; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in antifouling paints in which mercury is employed as an active element for the destruction of marine growths.

The object of the invention is to produce an antifouling compound that can beapplied over metal or other surfaces Without deleterious action thereon, and to accomplish this end by employing mercury as the antifoul: ing agent by so combining it with other in-- gredients as to require but a comparatively small quantity thereof, due primarily to the absence of neutralizing ingredients and to effective distribution and suspension of the mercury in the compound, as well as by reason of its protection therein against too-rapid action and consequent consumption, thereby rendering the compound lasting and the use of mercury therein commercially rofitable.

The use of mercury in antifouling compounds has been usually limited to that of w an auxiliary agent on account of its expensiveness and the difficulty in eifectually combining it, the combination being usually effected by employing mercury in other than its native form, with the result of a loss in its active properties. Moreover, it has been a, common source of error to combine the mercury with ingredients which have a neutralizing effect upon it, such as iron and other metal. With these considerations in view the present invention aims to make a practical advance in this art and has as a chief concern the production of a coating compound for the bottoms of iron or steel vessels which will be suitable for application over the usual coating of red. lead and act as a seal therefor against the dissolving and softening action of the sea-water while performing its antifouling function.

The invention consists in the formation of a paste of mercugy, tallow, ocher, linseed oil, and dryer to 5e hanIdIeYi cohiifierciallyand usedwit'li' the addition of red lead, the same being compounded substantially as hereinafter set forth in order that when applied it 'will remain in a semidry state hard enough to resist the washing action of the sea,,yet-- be subject to such gradual dissolution as to keep it always active.

In compounding the above-named ingredients I employ mercury in its native state in order to render the galvanic action freer, and with the requisite quantity thereof is mixed heated tallow, the melted tallow allowing the mercury to be thoroughly mixed therewith, and when cooled during the mixing to hold the mercury in suspension, as well as forming a preservative body that will prevent the compound from drying hard and leaving the mercury either exposed to too-rapid consumption or so incased by the formation of an outer skin as to be wholly or partially inactive. The mixing of the mercury and tallow is preferably accomplished in a bur-mill. Ocher is employed as a base for the paste, and the requisite quantity thereof is mixed with linseed oil and drier, after which these three ingredients so incorporated are added to the mer- 8o cury and tallow and the entire mass mixed until a thorough incorporation of all the ingredients takes place. By this manner of mixing the ingredients not only is the incorporation thereof thorough, but the whole mass 8 5 is rendered so as to make separation of the ingredients impossible. The result is a thick paste which can be commercially handled without danger of deterioration and which requires the subsequent addition of dry red lead 0 for the twofold purpose of causing the paste to harden sufficiently when applied and to cause it to adhere especially over a coating of red lead by reason of the affiliation of the lead in the paste with that of the coating. 9 5

In making this compound I found it effective to combine the ingredients in the following proportions to make about twenty-five gallons same is being commercially handled, while 15 the dry red lead is necessary to bring it into a semidry condition, but cannot he added except as the compound is being used.

What I claim is- An antifouling paint consisting of mercury, tallow, ocher, linseed-oil, drier and red lead, combined substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I affix my sigrature. in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. DENNEY.

Witnesses:

THOMAS J. WESCOTT, CLARENCE G. SMITHERS. 

